Jim Monaghan, political powerbroker and close confidant of Phil Anschutz, died Wednesday at University of Colorado Hospital. He was 66.Considered by many as the James Carville of Colorado, Monaghan was a key strategist for governors, senators and mayors, as well an early leader in the environmental movement. "He was a wonderful human being, had an indefatigable work ethic and had...

I was an intern in Gov. Lamm's office in 1975 and remember working with Jim closely (along with Wally Steale, Tom Nussbaum, and John Parr). He was a skilled tactician but also funny and approachable. I have many good memories of those 7 months I spent in the office. May he rest in peace.

jon wrote:Nice of Generalissimo Anschutz to shoot him an email and make it about himself. What a card.

Jon, what's up brother are you still feeling sad about Anschutz not bringing you within the circle of trust?

The Generalissimo knows how to run his political staff (the lobbyists, operatives and and the elected ones). To think you could get this once true believing political enviro activist to follow the green would have been unfathomable, but everyone has their price and his was fairly low.

It's good to see his fellow political-corporate prostitutes could make supportive comments on all his activites.

Sorry to the family, kids and grand kids, this man died too early but his work habits of arriving at the office at 10a after working until 2a cannot be classified as healthy.

So, Jim Monaghan was "an early leader in the state's environmental movement"? What I remember is being a staffer with the group, the Colorado Open Space Council, that Dick Lamm had been employed by when he was elected governor. As such, after the election, several of us tried to attend one of the governor's early meetings on environmental policy. When we arrived, there was Jim Monaghan blocking our entrance to the room. Mr. Monaghan quickly disinvited us from the meeting. That was the start of a somewhat rocky relationship with Gov. Lamm on environmental issues.

Knowing nothing of his background in progressive causes or Democratic party politics, I had the pleasure of working with Mr. Monaghan over the last few years and found him unfailingly cordial, engaged and responsive. He always answered calls -- a habit that's falling by the wayside -- until what was in retrospect the end.

It's no surprise that he was hired for such a sensitive position. Despite his conservative politics, Anschutz has always respected ability and professionalism, regardless of ideology.

But it does highlight Anschutz's feelings toward the press. He has no use for it, except when he can control it as a tool for one campaign of his or another. He's right that reporters can sometimes get things wrong. But in America our commitment to free and vigorous press goes pretty deep. Our system made it possible for Anschutz to create great wealth; he's one of the richest people in the country. We have a legitimate interest in knowing more about him than what's required by his various projects' disclosures.

It's too bad that Jim couldn't have used his smarts and his influence with Anschutz to convince him that openness and more transparency can actually help the cause of a free market.

*) Democratic Senator Bennet owes his entire political career to Anschutz, a professed "Republican"

*) Both the Colorado Senate and House refusing to operate intelligently and implement the will of the people (Amendment 64 debacle. And what ever happened to Amendment 65? You know, the one where the people mandated the Colorado legislators to legislate the amount of finances allowed in campaigns. Haven't heard anything about that coming from the "representatives of the people." http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite?c= ... BONWrapper)

- To name but a few of the governmental obscenities.

Ahem.

Worst government ever, but again, the government is only as good as the nickels kicked to them by the chump billionaires for which they grovel.

RIP Jim, at least you are now beyond the fray of Colorado's political madness.